Scholastic Art & Writing Awards: Opportunities for Your Talented Students

Mark Gordon, Associate Professor in the School of Visual, Performing, and Communication Arts, is regional director for The Scholastic Art Awards, Eastern/Central North Carolina Region, hosted by Barton College.

Gordon received degrees in Philosophy and Physical Education from Oberlin College and an MFA from The Ohio State University. Starting as a potter, he has worked in clay for over 40 years, beginning with wheelthrowing and expanding into modular assembled clay sculptures and mixed-media site-specific installations. His work is exhibited in regional, national, and international galleries, colleges and universities, and museums.

The Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, a 501(c)(3) national nonprofit organization whose mission is to identify students with exceptional artistic and literary talent and present their remarkable work to the world through scholarships, exhibitions and the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, appointed Debra Samdperil as Assistant Executive Director of Programs on January 21, 2016.

Based in New York and reporting to Virginia McEnerney, Executive Director for the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, Debra is the key driver of strategy and outreach for the Scholastic Art & Writing Awards, including leading awareness campaigns, targeted to both educators and students, about the Alliance's numerous student awards and scholarship opportunities. She also oversees and works closely with the Alliance's external relations team to support innovative national partnerships with organizations including the National Art Education Association and the National Writing Project and more.

Debra brings more than 20 years of art education and non-profit program development experience to the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, having most recently served as the Associate Vice President for Non-Degree Programs at the School of Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, where she also led the regional scholarship submissions for the Scholastic Arts & Writing Awards in Massachusetts – one of the Alliance's largest regional affiliate programs.

Debra earned her B.F.A. degree from Tufts University.

Laura Milas, MA, BFA, NBCT
Art Educator, Hinsdale Central High School, Hinsdale, Illinois
Laura Milas is a Visual Art Educator at Hinsdale Central High School where she teaches AP Art History, AP Studio Art, Drawing, and Painting. She has served as NAEA Western Region Vice President and on National Standards Assessment Writing Teams. An Illinois Art Education Past President, Newsletter Editor, and Youth Art Month Chairperson, Laura has been honored as the IAEA Art Educator of the Year and has been inducted as an IAEA Distinguished Member. A graduate of University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, she received its Distinguished Alumni Award in Art Education.

Linda Popp is a Baltimore artist and art educator. She recently retired after a 41year career with Baltimore County Public Schools, most recently as the Visual Arts Coordinator. She has taught at the middle school and high school levels. Her teaching has informed her art, and her art has informed her teaching. During her career Linda has been very involved with the Maryland Art Education Association and National Art Education Association. She has given numerous presentations and workshops at the local, state, and national levels. In November she will be the keynote speaker at the Virginia Art Education Association Conference. Linda has held leadership positions in both organizations. She has won numerous art education awards at the local, state, and national levels, including NAEA National Secondary Art Educator and NAEA National Supervision/Administration Art Educator.